We have to include Goliath in our list– the true power of Facebook is that everyone is on it. You can post thoughts, videos, and photos (including all those Instagrams of iced coffees you’re sure to take over the summer) with your entire group of friends.

Sure, you have to fight with the notoriously complex and finicky algorithm to get your posts actually seen. But with chat and messages, plus Facebook’s huge database of users, a one-on-one chat with virtually anyone is only several clicks away.

Sure, we’re biased, but what’s a more fun way to keep in touch than through collaborating on a quick video mashup? Whenever inspiration strikes, you can record a 6 second video, then send it to your friends.

They’ll add their own short videos, then you all will automatically get the mashed up completed video back! No fussing, no editing, no complex interfaces. And since you and your friends are brilliant and awesome, the results are probably going to be hilarious.

In terms of free video calling, these three apps reign supreme. Skype is the gold standard for video chatting since anyone can create an account to get started. Facebook does have an integrated video chat using Skype but it doesn’t work with all operating systems or browsers (and, obviously, not if the person isn’t on Facebook).

If all your besties have iDevices, then you’re set with FaceTime. Like most things Apple does, it’s simple and easy to use, if you have your friends in your contact list.

Google hangouts is great for group video chats, so laugh the night away with all your sorority sisters or catch up in a heartfelt chat with your old roomies.

If you can’t be bothered to actually pick up your phone and call your friends, but want to hear their voices, Zello might be your answer. Similar to walkie-talkies or those Nextel push-to-talk phones, you push a button for instant voice access to your friends.

It works on both Wifi and data networks so a quick chat is at your fingertips at just the touch of a button. You can also create or join channels with friends (or random collaborators) for a sometimes chaotic group chat.

5. Your dang calendar

The most important aspect of keeping in touch is sticking to a schedule. Summer break can be just as busy as the school semesters, what with jobs, catching up with old friends, vacations, and generally decompressing from an intense educational workload.

Setting up weekly or biweekly dates to chat can have more impact on staying in touch than any single app ever could. Plenty of apps are available to send you reminders if you don’t want to schedule it yourself.

In honor of this hugely popular trend, we’ve put together a list of the best (worst?) selfies of all-time. Hang on to your Instagram filters.

1.

Believe it or not, the best way to show someone you’re romantically interested is NOT to “seductively” (aka creepily) stare into a camera and caress your own face while Drake croons in the background. You will mercilessly be mocked by the unforgiving Internet.

2.

Hey, selfies aren’t exclusively for humans. This handsome fellow knows how to pose like the best of them.

3.

Stars: they’re just like us. Even Hollywood legend Meryl Streep took time to pose for a selfie with Hillary Clinton, one of the most powerful women in the world.

4.

Holy crap. That’s all.

5.

This fellow quickly learned the inherent dangers of selfie-ing while he was posing next to an active train track. He’s lucky it was only the conductor’s foot that whacked him in the head for moronically standing that close next to thousands of tons of speeding metal.